Page 246
An.1685
Acapulco Harbour.
Chriftmas, never more than 8 or 10 days before or after. Upon the return of this Ship to the Manila, the other which stayeth there till her arrival, takes her turn back to Acapulco. Sir John Narborough there- fore was imposed on by the Spaniards, who told him that there were 6 sail or more that used this Trade.
The Port of Acapulco is very commodious for the reception of Ships, and so large, that some hundreds may safely ride there without damnify- ing each other. There is a small low Island cros- sing the mouth of the Harbour ; it is about a mile and a half long, and half a mile broad, stretching East and West. It leaves a good wide deep Chan- nel at each end, where Ships may safely go in or come out, taking the advantage of the Winds; they must enter with the Sea-wind, and go out with the Land-wind, for these Winds seldom or never fail to succeed each other alternately in their proper seafons of the day or night. The Westermost Channel is the narrowest, but so deep there is no anchoring, and the Manila Ships pass in that way, but the Ships from Lima enters on the S. W. Chan- nel. This Harbour runs in North about 3 miles, then growing very narrow, it turns short about to the West, and runs about a mile farther where it ends. The Town stands on the N. W. side, at the mouth of this narrow passage, close by the Sea, and at the end of the Town there is a Platform with a great many Guns. Opposite to the Town on the East side stands a high strong Castle, said to have 40 Guns of a very great bore. Ships common- ly ride near the bottom of the Harbour, under the Command both of the Castle and the Plat- form.
Captain Townly, who, as I said before, with 140 men, left our Ships on a design to fetch the Lima Ship out of the Harbour, had not rowed above 3 or 4 leagues before the Voyage was like to end with